The impoverished among us (editorial on Census report on poverty)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama _ Look around you the next time you're in a crowd.

One in six is living in poverty in Alabama, according to new U.S. Census figures.

Alabama's 16.9 percent poverty rate for 2010 is higher than the 15.1 percent national average and 2 percent above Alabama's poverty ranks the year before. The number of Alabamians thrust into poverty is now 808,000 - up from 770,000 in just two years.

That's shocking when you consider the study bases the poverty level at $22,350 for a family of four.

Try supporting a family on that amount.

It's tough out there as area residents who are out of work or underemployed can attest. Many more Alabamians are earning just above the poverty baseline and desperately struggling to get by.

We're better off in Madison County, which consistently has among the lowest unemployment rates in the state, but the shaky economy leaves us nervous about keeping our jobs and paying our bills.

Many who remain employed have seen their benefits reduced or pulled altogether.

Alabama Arise, a policy group for the poor, said U.S. Census data showed that 730,055 or 18.3 percent of Alabamians under age 65 did not have health insurance in 2009-2010 - up from 13.3 percent the year before.

Nationally, the share of Americans without health coverage rose from 16.1 percent 16.3 percent, due to layoffs and losses of employer-provided health insurance.

Mississippi recorded the highest share of impoverished people at 22.7 percent, followed by Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Georgia, New Mexico, and Arizona. Alabama ranked 11th worse just behind Arkansas and North Carolina (which tied) and Kentucky.

New Hampshire had the lowest share of impoverished at 6.6 percent.

We'll never eradicate hunger and poverty. Nor will any state or country attain 100 percent employment.

A civilized world, however, helps those in need. The needy, of course, should do all they can to help themselves.

Layoffs and cuts to education, health care and other public services could slow Alabama's recovery in the recession and undermine the foundation for its economic future.

Investments in those areas will improve our quality of life, create jobs and make Alabama a better place to do business. Poverty can cause higher social costs than the costs of leading people to self sufficiency.

Some how, some way, policymakers will need to find ways to help the less fortunate in ways that equip them to support themselves. Faith-based organizations, charities and civic groups and individuals must chip in.